DURHAM, N.C. - Kaitlyn Lim's two-run double in the fifth fueled a late rally backing another dominant NiJaree Canady performance as No. 9 Stanford edged No. 8 Duke 3-1 on Friday afternoon to open NCAA Super Regionals.
Breaking through with the Cardinal's first hit of the game, Lim roped a one-out double to left center that plated Emily Jones and Emily Schultz for a 2-1 lead after Duke was in control early.
Making its seventh NCAA Super Regional appearance, Stanford (44-13) is one win shy of reaching the Women's College World Series for the third time overall and first since 2004.
The Cardinal tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning when Aly Kaneshiro's two-out RBI double brough home Ellee Eck, who came on to pinch run following a leadoff single by Allie Clements.
That was more than enough support required for Canady, who delivered another standout performance one day after being recognized as one of three finalists for the TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year. After surrendering a 1-0 lead in the first inning – only her ninth run allowed in 113.1 innings this season – Canady settled down and finished with a complete game that included nine strikeouts while allowing only four hits and one walk.
Duke (48-11, 19-5), which defeated Stanford 4-2 back on Feb. 11 at the Mark Campbell Classic in Irvine in the only previous meeting between the schools, scored on an RBI single in the first but was held in check the rest of the way.
Stanford remained unbeaten in four NCAA contests after needing only three games to sweep through its regional last weekend, defeating Long Beach State and Florida twice. The Cardinal, which was hosting its first NCAA Regional in 12 years, has relied on dominant pitching and allowed only three runs in the postseason.
Stanford's 44 victories are its most since a 48-11 finish in 2009 and the 40-win campaign is the first since 2012.
Game two of the NCAA Super Regional play is scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 27, at 12 p.m., weather permitting.